PRO FOOTBALL

PRO FOOTBALL; Elway a Crowd Pleaser In Canton's Class of '04

By CLIFTON BROWN

Published: August 9, 2004

CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 8—
Amid a scene that looked like a Denver Broncos home game, John Elway joined Barry Sanders, Carl Eller and Bob Brown on Sunday as the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Legions of Elway fans descended on this city wearing replicas of his No. 7 jersey, turning Fawcett Stadium into a sea of orange. Blessed with a powerful arm as well as mobility, Elway threw for 300 touchdowns and 51,475 yards, playing his entire 16-year career with the Broncos and winning the Super Bowl in his final two seasons.

He is the first Bronco to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Known for his prowess in clutch situations, Elway had a record 47 fourth-quarter game-winning or game-tying drives. The most famous was his 98-yard touchdown drive in the 1986 American Football Conference championship game against the Cleveland Browns, which has become known in football lore as the Drive.

Elway, 44, noted the coincidence of being inducted in Ohio, the state where he broke the hearts of many Browns fans.

''I have to be totally honest, I have never heard that in Ohio before,'' Elway said, smiling after being cheered as he took the podium.

He was introduced by his 18-year-old daughter, Jessica, the oldest of his four children. Jessica said that her father had surgery 12 times during his career, and that she wanted him to retire after his first Super Bowl victory.

''I've never said this before, and I may never say it again, but thanks for not listening,'' Jessica said.

During an eloquent speech, Elway became emotional when he spoke of his father, Jack, a former college football coach and a former director of scouting with the Broncos, who died three years ago.

''He taught me to compete, to never give up, to play every down like it's your last,'' Elway said.

Elway thanked his former teammates and coaches, and he admitted that making the Hall of Fame became a goal long before he retired at age 38 in 1999, three months after leading the Broncos to a victory in the Super Bowl.

''Any player would dream of this,'' he said. ''This is the final chapter, something that closes the book on my playing career.''

Elway is the only player in N.F.L. history to pass for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 200 yards in seven consecutive seasons.

Sanders retired unexpectedly at 31, after 10 prolific seasons with the Detroit Lions. One of the most elusive running backs in league history, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards in his career, making him the N.F.L.'s third-leading rusher, behind Emmitt Smith (17,418) and Walter Payton (16,726).

At only 5 feet 8 inches, Sanders had remarkable quickness and vision, giving him an uncanny ability to make tacklers miss. With his unique style, Sanders darted and danced among defenders, and he could turn an apparent 2-yard loss into an exciting gain.

''The anticipation of what was going to happen on the next play -- that's what really drove me,'' said Sanders, 36.

Sanders was the first N.F.L. player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons, and the only player to do it in his first 10 seasons. He is the only player to rush for more than 100 yards in 14 consecutive games, and he remains the only player to record five 1,500-yard rushing seasons.

When he retired, Sanders had more yards than Smith, and he may have rushed for 20,000 career yards if he had played another three or four seasons. But Sanders retired in his prime.

Instead of talking about his reasons for retiring, Sanders focused on the honor of being inducted.

''When you think of other Hall of Famers like Lem Barney, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, it's only natural to ask yourself if you belong,'' he said. ''It's awesome. I'm flattered that people took time out of their Sunday to watch me play. I hope they felt like I worked as hard at my job as they did at their job.''

Eller, 62, made his mark as a defensive end with the Minnesota Vikings, part of a legendary front four nicknamed the Purple People Eaters. Eller played in four Super Bowls in his 16-year-career and was named to the Pro Bowl six times. But after waiting 25 years to get into the Hall, Eller admitted he had begun to give up hope, even when people told him he was sure to get in.

''They were well meaning, but it was kind of like a dagger in my heart,'' Eller said. ''As a player, I gave it my all. It's an honor to be appreciated for the way you played the game.''

Eller still lives in Minneapolis and remains active in the community. During his speech, he emphasized the importance of being a role model.

''We must lead African-American men to the great colleges and universities of this country, not to the jails,'' Eller said. ''I am here today to say: 'I haven't given up on you. You have the talent, you have the intelligence, and you have the opportunity.'''

Brown, 62, was a punishing offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Los Angeles Rams and the Oakland Raiders. Even in practice, he was known for setting the tone with his physical play.

''Bob believed in force,'' said Deacon Jones, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman who practiced against Brown when they were teammates with the Rams. ''He'd kill a mosquito with an ax.''

Brown, who retired after the 1973 season, had the longest wait of those inducted on Sunday.

''It's like a dream,'' he said. ''I'm still wondering if I'm going to wake up somewhere else.''